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Optimus Whitepaper FINAL
Optimus Whitepaper FINAL
Optimus
V1.0
TM
Table of Contents
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................................... 3
The Growth of Notebook PCs ....................................................................................................................... 4
Switchable Graphics Technology .............................................................................................................. 8
NVIDIA Optimus Technology ..................................................................................................................... 11
How Optimus Differs from Switchable Graphics .................................................................................... 12
Optimus is Automatic ............................................................................................................................. 13
An Overview of the Optimus Technology ................................................................................................... 14
Optimus Software ....................................................................................................................................... 15
Optimus Routing Layer ........................................................................................................................... 15
Optimus Profiles.................................................................................................................................. 16
Optimus Leverages Windows 7............................................................................................................... 17
Optimus Hardware ...................................................................................................................................... 18
System Advantages ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Optimus Copy Engine .................................................................................................................................. 18
Sample Scenarios ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Scenario 1 Playing World of Warcraft .................................................................................................. 20
Scenario 2 Convert and Copy Video to Zune HD.................................................................................. 20
Scenario 3 Web Browsing .................................................................................................................... 21
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 22
Document Revision History......................................................................................................................... 23
Executive Summary
As the notebook industry continues to grow, consumers are trying to find the best compromise
between battery life and performance. With the increasing popularity of HD media, gaming, and
GPU powered applications, the number of GPUs included in notebooks continues to increase.
While integrated graphics has historically delivered good battery life, it has failed to deliver the
graphics and GPU performance end users demand. As a result, a few years ago NVIDIA
developed a technology dubbed switchable graphics which allowed the end-user to choose
which display adaptor would be used. In essence, this technology brought the best of both
worlds, as it offered the battery life of an integrated graphics solution and the performance of a
discrete GPU. Unfortunately, there were limitations to the technology resulting in the end user
having to execute a fairly involved procedure to harness the most from the platform, resulting in
only 1% of users ever switching between the two graphics systems.
With NVIDIAs new Optimus technology, users can now experience the full performance
benefits of a discrete GPU with the battery life of an integrated graphics solution. NVIDIA
Optimus automatically, instantaneously, and seamlessly optimizes the notebook to offer the
best performance or best battery life depending on the application. And it simply works.
System vendors promote battery life as a primary feature of their new notebooks. Intel markets
Ultra Low Voltage CPUs that help increase notebook battery life and reduce notebook
thickness (z-height).
Industry benchmarks and publications have followed this trend. BAPCOs popular MobileMark
benchmark, while not exactly representing expected battery life for all usage models, is a
primary battery-life benchmarking tool for notebooks used at many publications today. Some
publications have developed their own battery life tests comprised of scripts that automate Web
surfing with and without wireless enabled, or play DVDs until the battery is depleted. These
publications must demonstrate battery life in their reviews, and while their tests may not be as
varied as MobileMark, or fully representative of typical notebook usage, they still provide useful
comparative data. There is no doubt that end users and the industry care deeply about
notebook battery life.
Given the limitation of standard Atom-based netbooks, the result for consumers was
disappointment and very high return rates, as much as 30% in some cases.
The introduction of NVIDIAs ION GPU redefined the entire netbook category and transformed
expectations forever. With the addition of the NVIDIA ION GPU, the netbook could finally do
what people wanted the platform to do. Whether the industry realized it or not, users were
asking for a GPU. With the netbook platforms transformation as a profound proof point, the
notebook industry is putting even more emphasis on including a discrete GPU on notebook
motherboards.
While the increased performance and capability provides a more enjoyable notebook
experience, it often conflicts with the other desired feature better battery life. This isnt just a
GPU phenomenon. Increased display brightness, faster CPUs, and higher RPM hard drives
anything that is high performance - all impact battery life.
To reduce mobile GPU power usage, NVIDIA has developed a number of patented technologies
over the years that improve power efficiency while still maintaining GPU performance. Lets look
at some of these technologies in the next section.
In order for the system to switch between the IGP and the discrete GPU, the user must
manually change a setting within NVIDIAs Switchable Graphics Applet. This applet presents a
simple menu that prompts the user to select a preferred graphics core based on a given
workload. Once the selection is made, the system BIOS (SBIOS) exposes an interface that the
Switchable Graphics driver uses to enable or disable the discrete GPU. In effect, the Switchable
Graphics driver acts as a proxy display driver and shuttles OS information to the driver
associated with the active and enabled display device.
Once the active graphics core (IGP or GPU) is ready to output a rendered scene or image, a
hardware multiplexer (device which provides switching of multiple inputs) will switch to the
correct display device as directed by the Switchable Graphics driver in order for the video output
to be sent to the desired display.
Manual Mode Changes Every time a switch between integrated and discrete
graphics mode is desired, the user needs to manually change the setting. If users
forget to enable the GPU before launching a game for example, they need to quit the
game and enable the GPU before re-launching the application.
Transition time Due to the multiplexer and driver load and unload process, there
is typically a delay of 5 to 10 seconds or more to switch between integrated graphics
and the discrete GPU.
would not realize the graphics mode did not change back to integrated graphics as
expected.
Screen Flicker As the system switches between the integrated graphics and
discrete GPU, the screen flickers due to the driver load time and multiplexers. This
can be an annoyance or cause panic as users might assume there is a problem with
the system.
The result of all the above is that users rarely switched, because they rarely remembered the
current graphics mode, preferred not to close their applications, and often didnt understand how
to switch modes.
Another solution was needed that would allow the user to have the performance of the discrete
GPU readily available when needed, while also being able to run on the integrated graphics for
maximum battery life. Ideally, this would be done without user interaction and accomplished
automatically in the background.
In order to overcome the above hurdles, NVIDIA developed a new technology which uses a
combination of software and hardware innovations to automatically, seamlessly, and
instantaneously deliver great performance and great battery life - NVIDIA Optimus Technology.
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11
Optimus
Switchable
Graphics
Detail
Automatically Enable
GPU for Intensive
Applications
Automatically Disable
GPU for Non-Intensive
Applications
Near-Instant
Transition Time
No Screen Flicker
During Transition
Supported Entirely by
NVIDIA
Doesnt Require
Additional Notebook
Components
Uses Standard
Industry APIs and
Protocols
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Optimus is Automatic
When using Switchable Graphics in the past, users were forced to manually enable the GPU
before launching any application that needed additional GPU power. Users had to ensure no
blocking applications were open before manually enabling the GPU. Once enabled, users could
launch GPU-intensive applications. When the application was eventually closed, users would
manually disable the GPU to conserve battery life. After the transition occurred, non-intensive
applications could be launched.
In contrast, NVIDIA Optimus makes the process of enabling the GPU automatic. NVIDIA has
done extensive testing and QA work to determine which applications should run on the GPU
and has created profiles for these programs. Optimus can recognize CUDA GPU computing
applications and many video playback applications that use DXVA GPU acceleration and will
automatically switch to the GPU in those cases. As a result, users simply launch their desired
application(s) and let Optimus take care of the rest. There are no additional steps or clicks
required by the user in order to enable the GPU. The sample scenario illustrated below in Figure
4 depicts the launch process between the two solutions.
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Optimus Software
o Optimus Routing
o Optimus Profiles
Optimus Hardware
o System Advantages
o Optimus Copy Engine
14
Optimus Software
Although several new hardware features are designed into NVIDIA GeForce 200M, 300M and
Fermi GPUs which make Optimus possible, NVIDIAs software team has also implemented
innovative technology to enable Optimus to function seamlessly without having to manually
change settings.
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By recognizing designated classes, the Optimus Routing Layer can help determine when the
GPU can be utilized to improve rendering performance. Specifically, it sends a signal to poweron the GPU when it finds the following three call types:
Optimus Profiles
Another keystone of NVIDIAs Optimus technology is the ability to use a list of GPU-powered
applications, each with its own unique Optimus Profile. NVIDIA has profiled applications based
on whether the GPU can add quality, performance, lower power, or functionality. In doing so,
Optimus is able to avoid powering up the GPU unless it is necessary.
Before an application has an Optimus Profile, NVIDIA runs the application through a series of
verification and validation processes to ensure the highest quality and experience. Once
validated, the updated Profiles are hosted on an NVIDIA web server and then automatically
pushed out to the end user. Should the user not want automatic updates, they can disable this
feature within the NVIDIA Control Panel.
As new applications and games are introduced in the market they may not have an Optimus
Profile preinstalled, so NVIDIA has created a unique solution-- an NVIDIA-hosted Web server
will push updated Optimus Profiles to the end user. Users also have the ability to customize
Profiles and create new ones.
Similar to the SLI profiles found in NVIDIA drivers over the last several years, a section within
the NVIDIA Control Panel displays the application-specific settings for Optimus. Although there
is an extensive list of existing application profiles with the preferred graphics processor for each
application, users are also able to add new application profiles and customize existing profiles
from the list. The drop menu and associated settings for doing so are illustrated below in Figure
7.
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Optimus Hardware
System Advantages
One of the primary advantages of Optimus compared to Switchable Graphics is that it does not
need additional hardware like multiplexers. An Optimus implementations simplicity reduces
costs, eases design and verification effort, and speeds time to market. As noted earlier, all
display connections are made directly to the IGP. Regardless of which display adapter is
processing the workload, the IGP will push the output to the display.
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Sample Scenarios
Given the fact that Optimus technology is completely seamless, users can rest assured they are
experiencing the highest possible performance without any sacrifice of battery life. Some
sample scenarios are illustrated below to highlight the benefit the discrete GPU can have upon
performance as well as depict when Optimus deems the integrated graphics as being sufficient.
How Optimus Reacts: Optimus detects that a GPU Compute application has launched and
powers up the GPU for the highest performance. As soon as the CUDA application is closed,
the GPU will be turned off to conserve power.
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Conclusion
Notebooks are developed in a wide variety of sizes and shapes in an effort to provide the ideal
balance of battery life and performance for varied consumer needs. As a result, consumers are
forced to prioritize performance or battery life, as one feature typically suffers significantly in
order to accommodate the other.
With NVIDIA Optimus, things simply just work. Users can enjoy watching a HD movie, surfing
the Web or playing top 3D games with the assurance of getting the best performance and the
longest battery life.
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Initial release
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